'Name'-Dropping With Greg Garcia

Garcia first hired Pennie as a writer and co-producer for "Yes, Dear," his CBS sitcom that began in 2000, and then for "Earl."

For "Yes, Dear," Garcia even named the characters Greg and Kim, after himself and his wife, who grew up in College Park and attended Frostburg State.

Greg and Kim Garcia and sons Camden and Nathan, 5 and 8, periodically visit his parents in Arlington and hers in Mount Airy.

"And I try to get to a Redskins game every year," he said.

Garcia mentioned the Redskins so often in "Yes, Dear" that he wrote and asked team owner Daniel Snyder whether he could sit in the owner's box for a game. (Snyder agreed, Garcia said.)

In Los Angeles, Garcia has found hometown connections in Hollywood's A-list circles. At the People's Choice Awards in January, he spotted actress Sandra Bullock, a graduate of Arlington's Washington-Lee High School, and struck up a conversation.

"All I had to say was, 'I'm from Arlington,' " he said. "There's something about hearing your hometown."

To actor Warren Beatty, another W-L alumnus, he said, " 'My mother went to junior high school with you.' . . . And [Beatty] came over and warmed right up."

MY NAME IS EARL

Thursdays

8 p.m.

NBC

Soon: Season 2

In the new season, which begins Sept. 21 , Earl stays focused on his list while the lives of those around him change. Storylines and stars to watch for:

· Burt Reynolds guest-stars as Camden County's version of Donald Trump, and Giovanni Ribisi returns as Earl's pal.

· Crab Man's status in the Witness Protection Program is revealed.

· Randy enters the world of dating, and Catalina considers a career change.